Container closure



April 28, -1931- J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed April 26, 1928 INVENTOR v/EZ mm2@ B jm ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 193i UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. HOTHERSALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CANCOM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CONTAINER cLosUan Application filed April 26,

This invention relates in general to an improved container for the packaging, storing, shipping and dispensing of liquid, tluid and volatile contents, such as furniture and metal polish, harness oil, neats-foot oil, and similar fluids used for various domestic and'industrial purposes.

The invention has more particular reference to an improved and unique screw nozzle and cap construction for containers of the type referred to, the cntets of which are emptied and used up gradually and intermittently and which therefore require not only an original liquid tight, air tight and gas tight closure but also substantially as good a reclosure.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of an im roved screw nozzle and cap construction wierein certain rigid and aligned parts of the nozzle and cap cooperate to engage an interposed resilient sealing gasket or packing in a unique and effective manner to provide an improved air tight and liquid tight seal between the nozzle and the cap.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a screw threaded nozzle and a cooperating cap therefor, which latter has a resilient packing secured therein and which mayr be loosened by a blow on its top edge, which may then be easily removed by hand and which may be replaced by hand to provide an adequate reclosure.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a sheet metal container provided with a nozzle and cap construction embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partial vertical crosssection through the nozzle, packing and cap, showing the resilient sealing gasket interposed between the nozzle and the cap before the cap is screwed home.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing the relative position of the parts when the 1928. Serial No. 272,896.

screw cap has been tightly applied to the nozzle; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view Showing the top edge of the cap slightlybent downward by a blow and also shows the threads `of the nozzle and the threads ot the cap slightly loosened by the blow.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawings a container of the central nozzle type, which comprises a cylindrical body 11, having a bottom end 12 and a top end 1S double seamed or otherwise ermanently and hermetically secured thereto.

The top end 13 is formed to vprovide a ,substantially frusto-conieal or breast part 16, which merges at a line of bend 17 into a substantially vertical cylindrical neck or nozzle 18.

The nozzle 18, a packing or gasket 19 and va screw cap 20 are the important parts of my invention, and a more detailed description of these parts will be given than is necessary-of the container body which may assume a number of different shapes and constructions.

The nozzle 18, where it merges out of the breast 16 along the circular line of bend 17, has a vertical cylindrical wall 21 which terminates at 22 into a central cylindrical part having annular screw threads 23. At 24 the metal of the nozzle 18 is bent inwardly at a slant and at an obtuse angle with the vertical wall part 21 of the nozzle to form a frustoconical portion 25. The metal of the nozzle 1S is again bent to form a sealing shoulder or ridge 26 and a downwardly and inwardly extending' vertical wall 27 which is substantially parallel with the straight wall part 21 of the nozzle. This skirt portion 27 forms an annular boundaryfor the nozzle orifice or pouring opening 28 through which the container-may be filled and also emptied of its contents.

The screw cap 2O comprises a flat central top iortion 29 on an even horizontal plane with an outer annular flat part or margin 30. Between the central part 29 and the outer annular margin 30 the metal ot the cap is depressed annularly into a V-shaped groove or channel 31, the apex of the channel being formed into a slightly rounded sealing bead or biting ridge 32, whichsubstantially conforms in size and shape and is in vertical alignment with the opposed sealing ridge 26 of the nozzle 18 when the nozzle and the cap are in assembled relationship. The metal of the cap v2O at a line of bend`33 is turned at right angles to the parts 29 and 30 to form a depending straight wall portion 34, which extends downwardly a short distance, when the metal of the cap is formed into annular screw threads 35, which in number, size and arrangement are substantially the same as the threads 23 of the nozzle and are adapted to tightly engage with the latter. At its lower extremity, the metal of the screw cap 20 is formed into an outwardly turned annular bead or curl 36.

The gasket 19 which is interposed between the screw nozzle 1S and the screw cap 20 comprises a central or core piece 37 of disk shape and of fibrous material, such as felt or paper. This fibrous material is of substantial thickness and is compressible and resilient. Its upper and lower surfaces 38 are lined with a covering of soft impervious material, such as lead foil or the like. The gasket 19 is preferably of a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the straight wall part 34 of the cap, so that itscircumferential vertical wall 39 will snugly fit within and frictionally adhere to the inner surface of the wall part 34 of the cap and will remain permanently in that position so that the cap 2O and the gasket 19 can thereafter be manipulated as one unit. The gasket 19` combines compressibility, resilience and iniperviousness, and provides means for effecting extremely ettective sealing of the discharge orifice 28 of the nozzle when used in conjunction with the gripping elements of the nozzle and cap of my invention.

lVhen the container has been tilled through the opening QS and it is desired to seal the same, the cap 2O with the gasket 19 assembled therewith is loosely applied to the nozzle 18 as shown in Fig'. 2. The cap is then turned in a clockwise direction` either by hand or by some suitable tool or device, until the threads 23 of the nozzle and the threads 35 of the cap tightly engage each other and the cap cannot be turned any further. During this tightening of the screw cap 2O upon the screw nozzle 18, the gasket 19 is gripped between the opposed sealing ridges 2G and 32 and an annular portion of the resilient core piece 37 of the gasket 19 is compressed therebetween. Theresilience of the compressed core portion 37 causes a pressure to be exerted behindv the lead foil gasket facings 38, which forces the lower lining of foil into tight engagement upon the unyielding nozzle shoulder 26 and also forces the upper lining of foil against the sealing ridge 39. of the cap. The lead foil is soft and conforms closely with the two aligned sealing ridges 26 and 32, thus providing a tight seal, which is both a liquid tight and also an hermetic seal.

The apices of the aligned sealing ridges Q6 and 32 have a slightly rounded conformation `which eliminates all danger of tearing the foil facings 38 of the gasket 19 and destroying the eiiiciency of the seal. The upward pressure exerted by the compressed core disk 3 against the upper foil facing 38 and the upper sealing ridge 32 is also communicated to the screw portion of the cap and the cap threads 35 are consequently pressed tightly against the nozzle threads 23.

The resilience of the gasket which assists in the provision of a liquid tight and hermetic seal ordinarily also helps in the easy removal of the cap by hand. The cap, however, may be applied so tightly as is the case where a special closing tool or device is employed or where the container is filled with some volatile product which requires an extra tight seal that it is extremely difficult or substantiallyv impossible at times to unscrew the cap by hand in the ordinary manner. The unique construction of the cap and nozzle of my invention lends itself very nicely to an avoidance of this dilliculty and to an extremely easy method of opening.

It will be noticed that a substantial space or cavity is provided between the upper outer parts of the nozzle and cap. The gasket 19 extends into this space which is delined by the slanting wall of the conical part 25 of the nozzle, the straight wall part 3l of the cap, and the flat marginal part 30 of the cap. This Vspace leaves the parts 30 and 34 of the cap without immediate support and a smart blow struck against the line of bend 33 of the cap, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. will bend the part 30 from horizontal to downwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby lowering the wall part 34. and loosening threads 35 of the cap from their tight engagement with the threads Q3 of the nozzle. Vhen this has been accomplished the ca is easily removable with the hand.

c ift is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbeforo described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Iclaim:

1. A closure for fluid containers, comprising a nozzle secured to a container and providing a filling and discharge orifice for said container, an annular .outwardlyY extending sealing bead formed in said nozzle, a closure adapted to dctachably engage said nozzle and nular inwardly `extending sealing bead opposing said nozzle bead and in vertical ali ment therewith, and a gasket engaged tween said opposed beads.

2. A closure for fluid containers, comprising a nozzle secured to a container and providing a filling and discharge orifice for said container, an annular outwardly extending rigid sealing bead formed in said nozzle, a closure adapted to detachably engage said nozzle to close said orifice, said closure having an annular inwardly extending rigid sealing bead opposing said nozzle bead and in vertical alignment therewith, and a resilient gasket engaged between said opposed beads.

3; A closure for iuid containers, comprlsing a screw nozzle secured to said container, a filling and discharge opening in said nozzle, an outwardly extending sealing element 1n said nozzle, a cap having screw threads corresponding with the screw threads of the nozzle, an inwardly extending sealing element in said screw cap and in opposed vertical alignment with the sealing element in said nozzle, and a packing interposed between said nozzle and said cap. n

4. A closure for fluid containers, comprising a screw nozzle secured toa contalner, a lling and discharge opening 1n said nozzle, an outwardly extending sealing rldge 1n sald nozzle adjacent said opening, a cap having screw threads corresponding with the screw threads of the nozzle, an inwardly extending sealing ridge in "said screw cap and 1n opposed vertical alignment with the sealing ridge in said nozzle, and a resilient packing interposed between said nozzle and said cap.

5. A closure for fluid containers, comprlsing a screw nozzle secured to a container, a filling and discharge opening in said nozzle, an outwardly extending sealing ridge in said nozzle adjacent said opening, a cap having screw threads corresponding with the screw threads of the nozzle, an inwardly extending sealing ridge in said screw cap and in opposed vertical alignment with the sealing ridge in said nozzle, and a resilient packing interposed between said nozzle and adapted to be tightly gripped between said opposed sealing ridges of the cap and nozzle to form a liquid tight and air tight seal between said nozzle and said cap.

6. A closure for fluid containers, comprising a screw nozzle secured to a container, a filling and discharge opening in said nozzle, an upwardly directed annular sealing ridge in said nozzle adjacent said opening, a cap having screw threads corresponding with the screw threads of the nozzle, a downwardly directed sealing ridge in said screw cap and in opposed vertical alignment with the annular sealing ridge in said nozzle, and a resilient packing interposed between said nozzle and said cap adapted to be tightly gripped between said opposed sealing ridges of the cap and nozzle to form a liquld tight and aii` tigrht seal between said nozzle and said cap.

A sealing device for fluid containers, comprising in combination a nozzle secured to a container and having a threaded body portion and a filling and discharge orifice, a cap providing a closure for said orifice and having a vertically depending portion arranged for threaded engagement with said threaded body portion of the nozzle, said nozzle and cap having opposed sealing ridges, said cap having another substantially unsupported top portion adapted to be bent by concussion to loosen said threaded engagement between the cap and the nozzle when said engagement is too tight for ordinary j disengagement by hand.

.8. A sealing device for fluid containers,

comprising in combination a nozzle secured to a container and having threaded body por- \tions and a lling and discharge orifice, a cap providing a closure for said orifice and having a portion arranged for threaded engagement with said threaded body portion of the nozzle, said nozzle and cap having opposed sealing ridges, said cap having a marginal top part which is substantially unsup- .f

ported and which lis adapted to be bent by concussion to loosen said threaded engage-v ment between the cap and the nozzle when said engagement is too tight for disengagement by hand. Y

9. A sealing device. for fluid containers, comprising in combination a nozzle secured to a container and having a threaded body portion and having its upper part formed into a frusto-conical section to provide an outwardly directed sealing shoulder defining a filling and discharge opening, a cap providing a closure for said opening and having a vertical depending portion arranged for threaded engagement with said threaded body portion of the nozzle, said cap having an inwardly pressed annular sealing ridge opposed to and in vertical alignment with said sealing-shoulder of the nozzle, a resilient sealing gasket engaged by said opposed shoulder and ridge to form an hermetic seal, said cap also Yhaving a substantially unsupported horizontal top portion adapted to be bent by concussion to loosen said threaded engagement between the cap and the nozzle when said engagement is too tight for ordinary disengagement by hand.

JOHN M. HOTI-IERSALL. 

